Dec. 22, 1937 – Dec. 6, 2022
Carol Lee Damele was born on Dec. 22, 1937, to Leo J. Damele and Ellen (Holley) Damele of Eureka, Nevada. She was educated in a one-room schoolhouse near her home of Tonkin Ranch until she attended school in Eureka. She told of many happy memories of her childhood with cousins on the ranch and during her schooldays. She graduated from Eureka County High School in 1955 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology and Chemistry in 1959 from Saint Mary’s of the Wasatch College in Utah.
It was at a social in Utah that she met David Heim, a handsome young man stationed at the Army’s Dugway Proving Ground.
Carol Lee moved to Reno and worked as a medical technologist at the VA Hospital and Washoe Medical Center. She enjoyed her independence and the work very much. She and Dave renewed their friendship and were later married in August of 1961. They made their home in El Sobrante, California and later in Fairfield, and Suisun Valley, California. It was in Fairfield where they started up the Dave’s Giant Hamburger restaurant.
Carol Lee loved the country life out in the orchards of Suisun Valley and grew her own fruit trees and gardens, and loved raising the four children there. She enjoyed hosting family parties and holiday gatherings. Carol Lee stayed close to the kids while working in Mother’s Guild at Holy Spirit School and as a substitute teacher at St. Vincent Ferrer High School in nearby Vallejo. She also worked as a paraprofessional at Solano County Schools. She enjoyed working with the families and teachers and made many friends.
In 2020 Carol Lee moved to Smith Valley, Nevada. She passed away peacefully at home on Dec. 6, 2022, just short of her 85th birthday.
She is survived by her two brothers, Leo Glynn (Mary) Damele and Antone J. Damele; son, Allan Heim; daughters, Ellen (LeRoy) Gansberg, Lesa (Angel) Gonzalez, Margaret Heim; and grandchildren, Robert Paulson, Kelly Paulson, Victoria (Erik) Johnson, Kristy (Jon) Thompson, Bianca Gonzalez, Cole Gansberg, Holley (Matthew) Hillman, Kassandra Gansberg, Leo Spencer, Graysen (Sydne) Spencer and Joseph Spencer; along with six great-grandchildren.
Dave preceded her in death in 2006.
The funeral Mass of Christian burial was held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, at Holy Spirit Church, 1070 N. Texas St., Fairfield, California.